How to Ensure Effective Execution of a Disaster Recovery Plan?
Which of the following BEST helps to ensure the effective execution of an organization's disaster recovery plan (DRP)?
Community Votes
57% of anonymous learners picked answer D. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Community Insight
Tests the difference between creating a DRP and enabling its practical execution, with the common trap being choosing documentation over site-specific accessibility.
Effective DRP execution relies on having procedures immediately accessible at both primary and failover sites rather than just documenting them or securing management approval. Community discussion highlights that physical or digital availability at the recovery location is critical during an actual outage.
Option D is frequently chosen because candidates assume the DR team’s documentation guarantees execution, overlooking that procedures must be readily accessible at the failover site to be actionable during a crisis.
Community Discussion (5 comments)
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Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
Option C directly addresses the operational reality of a disaster recovery event. When a failover occurs, staff at the alternate site must have immediate, uninterrupted access to step-by-step procedures to restore critical systems without delay. Without local availability, even perfectly documented plans become useless during a crisis. This aligns with ISACA’s emphasis on practical implementability over theoretical design.Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A focuses on theoretical alignment rather than operational readiness, which does not guarantee execution. Option B addresses governance and approval, which are necessary for funding and policy but do not assist technicians during an active outage. Option D describes authorship, yet creating detailed steps is irrelevant if those steps cannot be accessed at the failover location when personnel change or systems go down.Community Comment Notes
Candidates frequently debate between options C and D, reflecting the classic documentation-versus-accessibility trap. One highly upvoted comment notes that “expertise resources can change from time to time,” making offline procedure availability critical for quick reference during unexpected staffing gaps. Another user correctly points out that “the question is about execution,” reinforcing that usability at the point of failure outweighs creation or approval workflows.Official Reference
- https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/past-issues/2017/volume-2/business-continuity-and-disaster-recovery-planning
- https://www.bci.org.uk/globalassets/documents/about/bci_best_practice_guidelines.pdf
- https://www.nist.gov/publications/nistir-7683-guideline-enterprise-class-system-contingency-plans
Exam Strategy
Always prioritize actionable, site-specific controls over administrative or theoretical options in BC/DR questions. Ask yourself whether the choice directly enables technicians to perform their tasks during an active outage, as ISACA heavily weights practical execution over planning phase activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't documenting process steps by the DR team the best answer?
Documentation alone does not guarantee execution if the documents are inaccessible at the recovery site. ISACA prioritizes physical or digital availability where operations occur.
Does management review improve DRP execution?
Management review ensures governance and resource allocation, but it does not directly enable technical execution during a live disaster.
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